Centralised service for triple-0 calls

The Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority says it will now handle all triple-0 calls across Victoria.

The statutory body has taken over emergency call-taking and dispatch services from police, ambulance and fire services.

The general manager of operations, Andrew Welwood, says it will allow faster response times and more police and ambulance officers to focus on other duties.

Mr Welwood says Victoria is the first state to centralise the service.

"One of the key things is that with the consolidation of our services here through our regionalisation program we're now really providing a standard of emergency capability comparable to that in metropolitan Victoria, which I think is fantastic for the regional community," he said.